VICP Registry Case Source Bundle Canonical URL: https://vicp-registry.org/case/USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00056 Package ID: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00056 Petitioner: Donna Nault Filed: 2017-01-13 Decided: 2018-06-28 Vaccine: influenza Vaccination date: 2015-10-07 Condition: shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) Outcome: compensated Award amount USD: 100000 AI-assisted case summary: Donna Nault filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program on January 13, 2017, alleging she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after receiving an influenza vaccination on October 7, 2015. The respondent conceded that petitioner was entitled to compensation, believing her medical course was consistent with SIRVA and that she met the statutory requirements for compensation, including suffering residual effects for more than six months. A ruling on entitlement was issued on June 13, 2017, finding her entitled to compensation. Subsequently, on April 5, 2018, the respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation, proposing an award of $100,000.00, which petitioner agreed to. The Chief Special Master issued a decision awarding Donna Nault a lump sum payment of $100,000.00 for all damages available under the Vaccine Act. Theory of causation field: Table Public staged source text: ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 1: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00056-0 Date issued/filed: 2018-05-02 Pages: 2 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 06/13/2017) regarding 16 Ruling on Entitlement (Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:17-vv-00056-UNJ Document 46 Filed 05/02/18 Page 1 of 2 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 17-56V Filed: June 13, 2017 UNPUBLISHED * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * DONNA NAULT, * * Special Processing Unit (“SPU”); Petitioner, * Ruling on Entitlement; v. * Concession; * Influenza ("Flu"); SECRETARY OF HEALTH * Shoulder Injury Related to AND HUMAN SERVICES, * Vaccine Administration ("SIRVA") * Respondent. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner. Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On January 13, 2017, petitioner filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) following her October 7, 2015 influenza vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On June 7, 2017, respondent filed his Rule 4(c) report in which he concedes that petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at 1. Specifically, respondent “believes that petitioner’s medical course is consistent with a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”).” Id. at 7. Respondent further states that “petitioner met the statutory requirements by suffering the residual 1 Because this unpublished ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access. 2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). Case 1:17-vv-00056-UNJ Document 46 Filed 05/02/18 Page 2 of 2 effects of her condition for more than six months. Therefore, based on the record as it now stands, petitioner has satisfied all legal prerequisites for compensation under the [Vaccine] Act.” Id. (internal citations omitted). In view of respondent’s concession and the evidence before me, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to compensation. IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master 2 ================================================================================ DOCUMENT 2: USCOURTS-cofc-1_17-vv-00056-1 Date issued/filed: 2018-06-28 Pages: 4 Docket text: PUBLIC DECISION (Originally filed: 04/05/2018) regarding 42 DECISION Stipulation/Proffer ( Signed by Chief Special Master Nora Beth Dorsey.)(mpj) Service on parties made. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case 1:17-vv-00056-UNJ Document 47 Filed 06/28/18 Page 1 of 4 In the United States Court of Federal Claims OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 17-56V Filed: April 5, 2018 UNPUBLISHED DONNA NAULT, Special Processing Unit (SPU); Damages Decision Based on Proffer; Petitioner, Influenza (Flu) Vaccine; Shoulder v. Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. Ronald Craig Homer, Conway, Homer, P.C., Boston, MA, for petitioner. Adriana Ruth Teitel, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for respondent. DECISION AWARDING DAMAGES1 Dorsey, Chief Special Master: On January 13, 2017, petitioner filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.,2 (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) following her October 7, 2015 influenza vaccination. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters. On June 13, 2017, a ruling on entitlement was issued, finding petitioner entitled to compensation for SIRVA. On April 5, 2018, respondent filed a proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”) indicating petitioner should be awarded $100,000.00. Proffer at 1. In the Proffer, respondent represented that petitioner agrees with the proffered 1 Because this unpublished decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action in this case, the undersigned intends to post it on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2012) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, the undersigned agrees that the identified material fits within this definition, the undersigned will redact such material from public access. 2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all “§” references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2012). Case 1:17-vv-00056-UNJ Document 47 Filed 06/28/18 Page 2 of 4 award. Based on the record as a whole, the undersigned finds that petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer. Pursuant to the terms stated in the attached Proffer, the undersigned awards petitioner a lump sum payment of $100,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Donna Nault. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under § 300aa-15(a). The clerk of the court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision.3 IT IS SO ORDERED. s/Nora Beth Dorsey Nora Beth Dorsey Chief Special Master 3 Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review. 2 Case 1:17-vv-00056-UNJ Document 47 Filed 06/28/18 Page 3 of 4 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS DONNA NAULT, Petitioner, No. 17-056V v. Chief Special Master Dorsey ECF SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Respondent. RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION I. Compensation for Vaccine Injury-Related Items On June 7, 2017, respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report conceding that petitioner is entitled to vaccine compensation for her Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”) injury. On June 13, 2017, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement adopting respondent’s recommendation. Respondent proffers that based on the evidence of record, petitioner should be awarded $100,000.00. This amount represents all elements of compensation to which petitioner would be entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees. II. Form of the Award Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment as described below, and requests that the special master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following:1 1 Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, respondent reserves the right to move the Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future medical expenses, future pain and suffering, and future lost wages. 1 Case 1:17-vv-00056-UNJ Document 47 Filed 06/28/18 Page 4 of 4 A lump sum payment of $100,000.00 in the form of a check payable to petitioner, Donna Nault. This amount accounts for all elements of compensation under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a) to which petitioner would be entitled. Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case. Respectfully submitted, CHAD A. READLER Acting Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Acting Director Torts Branch, Civil Division CATHARINE E. REEVES Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Adriana Teitel ADRIANA TEITEL Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146, Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0146 Tel: (202) 616-3677 Dated: April 5, 2018 2